JUSTICE DEMANDED FOR IRFAN MASIH, SANITARY WORKER OF UMER KOT DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

LAHORE:  Ecumenical Commission for Human Development (ECHD) has strongly condemned the death of Irfan Masih, a manual sanitary worker in Municipal Committee, Umer Kot, who died in Civil Hospital on June 01, 2017 due to criminal negligence by doctors and relevant staff of civil hospital.  

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development expressed their grief over the attitude of local doctors and authorities, which clearly demonstrate discrimination meted out to low-caste Christians and Hindus. “This is not a simple accidental death. This is a clear case of caste and descent-based discrimination, which is yet to be criminalized in Pakistan,” said the statement.

James Rehmat, Executive Director – ECHD added that “People being discriminated on the basis of their professions and the refusal of emergency medical treatment on the basis of someone being polluted must be considered a criminal offence”.

According to reports Irfan Masih, working as sanitary worker had fallen unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a manhole in scorching heat without adequate safety equipment. He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition where the doctor on duty allegedly refused to touch his “sludge-covered body because he was fasting.  While the doctor said he could not touch Irfan’s body, the sanitary worker was lying in a corner of the hospital, gasping for breath. A short while later he died.

James Rehmat, Executive Director ECHD, further stated that “We condemn this incident in the strongest manner. A society becomes exceedingly dangerous when it disregards all norms of humanity. An innocent precious life was lost because someone refused to perform his duty; a duty he is under oath and obligated to perform.”

James Rehmat further demanded that the provincial health ministry and all relevant authorities to ensure that an impartial investigation is carried out, the medical practitioner concerned brought to justice and his license cancelled. He had violated his Hippocratic Oath which bound him to treat a patient under any circumstances, beyond religion and class.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is independent Christian advocacy, humanitarian aid and development agency, dedicated to support religious minorities; where they are suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faiths in Pakistan.